To ALL the vets and current servicemen: A sincere
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
If U see a vet or an active duty man this weekend (or on any day for that matter), thank him/her for the service.
Sorry about the slightly bent wrist (I guess it could have been worse, lol) but it's well over 40 years since I've been required to salute.
Take a few seconds and mentally recall ALL who have died: parents, siblings, friends, lovers, children, teachers, anyone to whom we are indebted in any way at all. Happy and safe Memorial Day to all.
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Memorial Day
To: EVERSO and FENWAY: Thanks for the replies, brothers.
I was one of those 6 month/6 year wonders who had completed both the Selective Service physicals and was just waiting for the Regular Army to draft me. Got a call from a guy where I worked--they had need of a trained x-ray technologist in the local USAF Reserve Group and they didn't have the freedom of time to get one trained--and that would have been MINIMAL training at best. I already had my license to practice. So, after having discussed the whole thing with my pop, I joined. The Gulf of Tonkin had already happened and the country was on the prowl for recruits. EVERYSOO: Thanks for serving during Nam.
Met my 2 best friends there. One has since died and the other I keep in regular contact. There was nothing much to do at the Air Force Reserve base during the week, so I was given temporary duty at NAS Willow Grove, Pa and only had to be with the USAF guys on my assigned weekend. This was VERY GOOD DUTY! I was given the x-ray section to run (I was an E2) while the Navy x-ray guy was cross trained in the lab. Got a "letter of Appreciation" from the Navy Base captain when my 6 months of active duty were completed.
Got rank one the day it was due for the entire time I was in the USAFRes. Left as an E6 which I earned after having been in the reserves for 5 1/4 years. One of the best decisions I ever made.
Luv to hear from other vets--reserve duty or otherwise.
My war was the VietNam War (American involvement)... That was a different era and a different time for our country. I remember while at Fort Benning, Georgia being ordered to not wear our uniform if we were able to live off post - we were required to get into uniform once on post, not before... Of course, hiding my military haircut was always a dead giveaway that I must be "one of them..."
That was a time in our country when not only did we experience villification because of The War but our nation was in turmoil because of the Civil Rights Movement. I remember, for example, the City of Columbus enacted a city ordnance that people could not carry what was called a "rake." This was a popular comb that black males used. The City Council outlawed these as it was believed to be a weapon. I was then with the 197th Infantry Brigade and we could not abide not having our soldiers accounted for and in formation. One of my black soldiers was arrested for carrying a rake and had a scheduled court hearing. My commander ordered me to represent that soldier before the judge. I remember the court room was full of black people waiting for their hearing. I was singularly different because of my white skin. The judge, of course, was white. When my soldier's case was called I stepped forward and spoke on behalf of my soldier and managed to get him released - no fine, no jail time. I escorted him back on base. After the judge made his decision I heard mumbling among others seated in the spectator area that they wished they had someone to speak for them...
Ahhhh such stories are for another time. My retirement occurred in 1990 and the Army is a different force now than what I remember during my service. But I confess I love it still and am so very, very proud of my youth and my service. Three of my four boys have served in the military - one had to go Marines to "one up" his old man, the other two served in the Army (one is now approaching 20-years with the National Guard)...
God bless those who served and those who supported! All contributed!
everysooften
west Michigan